Propulsion apparatus for ships, boats, and the like.



S. Z. DE FBRRANTI. v PROPULSION APPARATUS FOR SHIPS, BOATS, AND THELIKE.

- APPLmA'TIoN FILED APR. 11, 1005. I 996,324; A v Patented June .27, 191

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MZQ M I Si Z. DE PBRRANTI. PRQPULSION APPARATUS FOR SHIPS, BOATS, ANDTHE LIKE.

' A APPLIOATION FILED APR.17, 190a.

Patented June 27, 1911'.

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S. Z. DE PERRANTI. PROPULSION APPARATUS FOR SHIPS, BOATS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION TILED APR.17, 1905.

Patented June 27, 1911.

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APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 1905.

996,324. Patented June 27,1911.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, 1905. 4

Patented June 27, 1911.

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S. Z. DE FERRANTI. PROPUL SION APPARATUS FOR SHIPS, BOATS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED APR. 17, 1905. 996,324, Patented June 27, 1911.

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on the blades, according to the power re SEBASTIAN ZIANI Dr: IEIRJRANCII, OF HAMPSTEAD, LONDON, ENGLAND.

PROPULSION APPARATUS FOR SHIPS, BOATS, AND THE LIKE.

. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 27, 1911.

Application filed April 17, 1905; Serial No. 256,108.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, SEBASTIAN ZIANI onFERRANTI, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residingat 31 Lyndhurst road, Ha-mpstead, London, N. W., England, have inventednew and useful Improvements in and Relating to Propulsion- Apparatus forShips,

Boats, and the Like, is aspecification.

to propulsion appaof which the following My invention relates for itsobject to provide an improved plant. in which the motive power isdeveloped in an internal combustion turbine adapted to work. withmaximumeiiiciency and economy under various conditions of speed.

My invention consists in a propulsive installation for ships, boats andthe like in which the screw or screws, paddles or the like are actuatedby one or more internal combustion turbines having means for varying theeffective action of the working fluid quired.

My invention also consists in the improved apparatus and the detailsthereof to be here-- inafter described. x

To satisfy the requirements of marine pro-- pulsion, the turbines mustbe capable of running in either direction. They must also be capable ofgiving at maximum economy v the correct torque n proportion to theliquid resistance of the vessel at any pre-determined speeds. Forexample at full speed the turbine will be required to give the fullamount of torque; at .8 of the full speed it will be required 'to give.55 of the full torque, and at .6 of the full speed, which is thespeedcommonly adopted for cruising,

speed torque. It is thus evident'that whereas the speed is only variedina small proportion, the torque required has an immense variation.

According to my invention 1 provide means whereby these variations ofspeed and corresponding variations of torque may be obtained simply andwith the maximum economy. It is generally sufficient that for marinepropulsion only one economical ciently at only one point of speedreversing.

it will be required to give,.2 of the full My: invention also providesfor this. case being fully met. It is also necessary that the speed ofthe screws should be'reduced to as nearly as possible correspond withthe speeds of the present fast running reciprocating engines. Accordingto my invention this is most nearly approached to.

Referringnow to the accompanying drawings which illustrate my inventionand form part of my specification, Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view ofan installation constructed according to my invention. Figs. 2 and 3show forms of control mechanisms for turbines employing as the workingfluid steam or air heated by the internal combustion of a suitable fuel.Fig. 4 shows a form of'turbine with blades sufficiently long to allowpassages of the fluid through them at difl'erent radii. Fig. 5 shows aform in which successive passes of the fluid through the blades takesplace at the same radii.

Fig. 6 shows a form of reversing turbine in which the blades are threetimes the radial depth required for a single pass. Figs. 7

and 8 show elevation and plan of a form of reversing turbine in .whichthe blades are twice the radialdepth required for a single pass. Fig. 9shows a turbine having double length blades disposed parallel to theaxis of rotation. Fig. .10 shows a form of turbine in which oppositelyrunning wheels are used. each wheel having multiple rings of radiallydisposed blades. a turbine divided into segments for purposes ofregulation. Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show details of the different segmentsas applied to a non-reversing single wheel return guide type of turbine.Figj-l5is a diagram of a reversing turbine adapted for marinepropulsion. Figs. 15, 15*, 15, and 15 are detail views of the difierentsegments of the arrangement shown in Fig. 15. Figs. 16

respectively. Fig. 18 shows a form of combustion chamber having waterjacketed 'multiple nozzles. Fig. -19 shows another form in which a longtube is arranged to prevent back ignition. Fig. 20 shows a method ofapplying turbines to the propulsion of paddle .wheel steamers. Fig. 21being a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2O. Fig. 22 is asection on the line CD on Fig.

Fig. 11 is a diagram of' "and 17 show a form of'automatic return .guidein working and non-'worklng position 21 showing the idler wheel andbrake mechwhere desirable similar elementsin the different drawingsare.denoted by the same reference letters.

In carrying my invention into effect and as applied by way of example toa plant having opposite handed propellers on concentrically disposedshafts I provide a turbine having oppositely running wheels, 4;, and w,Fig. 1, which are operated by the high temperature working fluid issuingfrom the combustion chambers, a, through expanding nozzles, b, so as toreduce the high temperature of the working fluid to such a degree as thematerials of construction can safely withstand. The wheels, '21, and to,actuate opposite handed propellers, 6 and 7, through concentricallyarranged shafts, 8 and 9, and are provided with two concentric rings ofblades which are disposed in opposite directions in each ring forpurposes of reversing, separate sets of nozzles and combustion chamberscoacting with each ring of blades being disposed in convenient posi:tions around the turbine casing. The turbine is arranged to give thecorrect torque in relation to the speed by any of the methods to behereinafter described. The fuel and air are introduced into thecombustion chamber, a, from any suitable sources through the pipes, hand m, by mechanism which I will hereafter describe with reference toFigs. 2 and 3 the air in this case being compressed by separately drivencompressors, h. A pipe, 0, leads steam which is preferably superheatedwhile. passing through the jacket, 0, before entering-the combustionchamber, a.

The high temperature gases from the combust-ion chamber, a, afteroperating on the turbine wheels are led through regenerators, 10, of anysuitable type where the balance of the,ava1lable heat is utilizedtoheatthe feed water which enters the regenerator by the pipe ll, and isconducted to the boiler by the pipe, 12.

In some cases air may be utilizedto form the Working fluid which thenbecomes of a noncondensable nature thereby rendering the boiler orevaporator unnecessary in which case the regenerators may thenbeusediglio impart heat to the air before it enters the-combustionchambers. Again in other cases the working fluid may be partly of acondensable nature as for example in the case where it consists of amixture of the products of combustion and steam; the regenerator may inthese circumstances be used either to part-ially or totally evaporatethe condensable part of the working fluid. When only partial evaporationof the working fluid takes place in the regenerator, the pressure atwhich the regenerator works should preferably be such that theunevaporated portion will immediately flash into steam on itsintroduction into the combustion chambers, so that no furtherevaporating plant will be necessary.

What I consider as essential to my invention is that the nature orcondition of the working fluid should be such as to preclude thepossibility of any material deposit. of moisture on its passage throughthe'turbine as otherwise skin friction and eddy losses will be incurredwhich will materially affect the efficiency of the plant. Such lossesare avoided by using air, or steam superheated by internal combustion,or a mixture of steam and products of combustlon as herelnbeforedescribed. The pressure energy of the working fluid is converted intovelocity energy as it issues from the combustion chambers in expansionnozzles which reduce the temperature of the working fluid to such adegree as not to act detrimentally on the constructive materialsemployed.

I will now describe some of the details of the arrangement shown inFig. 1. Thus referring to Fig. 2, an arrangement of parts is shownsuitable for use with a steam turbine, the steam being highlysuperheated by burning in it some suitable fuel. In the figure, thecombustion chamber is shown at a, the nozzle, b, issuing directtherefrom. (It should be noted that these nozzles are not shown in theirtrue shape in Figs. 2 and 3 owing to the manner plan cuts them,rendering them considerably fore-shortened). Steam is admitted by way ofthe pipe, 0, and valve, (Z, in.to the jacket, e, surrounding thecombustion chamber whence it passes through suitable openings into theinterior of the chamber, as indicated by the arrows. Inside the-combustion chamber is a flame tube, f, into which air is admitted fromthe main air supply pipe, k, by way of any suitable valve, 2', while oilor gas is likewise admitted by way of a valve, is, from the main fuelpipe, m. I preferably place the igniter, n, which may be of any suitabletype, in a subsidiary or firing tube, 0, which is supplied by branchesfrom the main air-and fuel supply pipes, h and m, above mentioned, thesebranches being controlled respectively by valves, 7" and s. The varioussteam, air and in which the sectional i pp y fuel valves above mentionedI control by 7 means of cams, eccentrics or the like such as t, mountedon 'a common shaft, u. The

quence, a typical cycle of operations being follows :First, air and fuelare admitted to the firing chamber, 0, by way respectively of thevalves, r, and s. The electric thus removing the point of maximum tern--perature from the igniter.

In Flg. 3 a modificatlon of the arrangement just describedis shownapplied "to the firing tube such as already described may be;

parts.

case of a. turbine employing air in which a suit-able fuel is burned asthe working medium. The same reference letters are Used as in Fig. l todenote corresponding It will be 'seen that in this modification, aseparate. eccentric is shown to operate the igniter, a, while the flametube, f, is dispensed ,with, the main air supply entering the combustionchamber, a, by way of the jacket, 6, While the fuel is introduceddirectly into the same chamber preferably.

at the end remote from the nozzle, 7).

In some cases a single combustion cham-' ber may be used with one ormore nozzles issuing therefrom, or several chambers may be used. Where Iuse a singlechamber, I

supply this intermittently with the elements used to form the workingfluid. The length of time for which these elements are supplieddetermine the power given off. For this purpose the admission valvesmust be large and Work with a quick motion, so as to give clean openingand closing. An electric igniter may be used which .is worked eithercontinuously or intermittently, or a used; but in this case I maysometimes use a firmg tube Worked continuously, care bemg taken that theelectric igniter is of such a I form and so placed as to receive themini mum injury from the heat of the burning gases. I

As it is very desirable when employing a number of combustion chambersthat the duration 'of operation ofv the individual chambers should be aslong as possible, and

as this is inconsistent with the obtaining of a constant torque, Iprefer to have several intermittently acting chambers, the governingbeing obtained by regulating the length of time during which thesechambers are in operation. In order to obtain good turning, I Work thesechambers consecutively and at equal intervals of time. The periods maythen be quite long, and the turning still very good. It is of courseclear that the chambers when so worked mustbe operated as alreadydescribed; viz.. by the approximately simultaneous admission andstoppage of all the elements necessary to form the working fluid.-

In carrying out my invention, I use where possible a compressor of therotary type,

suitable non-return valves, and suitable control valves for stopping ofthe water supply with the minimum shock, an air butter or cylinder beingprovided to facilitate the acicomplishing of this result, the compressormoving part running dry when out out of. operation by meansof the abovevalves. I may however, according to another method, govern the amount ofcompressed air supplied by means of working one or more compressorsintermittently at slow periods, and varying the length of the periodsfor purposes of, regulation. Where two or more compressors are worked inthis way, I make their periods follow each other consecutively, so astogive the greatest evenness of pressure and absorption of work from thedriving turbines. I may feed the compressor with air in comparativelyshort blasts, or in the case of the compressors using water, I may feedthe water at intervals of greater or shorter length, so that thecompressor Works intermittently. It is therefore com pressing at onetime and then rotating light pressor by means of automatic gear workedfrom the turbine or compressor shaft or any other source of power. Thevalves are so arranged as to cut the compressor out of actionperiodically, and the length of its action in these periods is themeasure of the amount of external work done.

In some cases where I may use a secondary condensing turbine in place ofa regenerator to absorb the balance of available heat in' the exhaustgases from the main turbine I use this to drive the compressor. In somecases this may be supplemented by a self-governing turbine of theair-steam type which will give the balance of power and efiect thenecessary regulation. This method of driving is also applicable tocompressors other than those of the type which I have mentioned.

In order to obtain the best results with the cycles used in connectionwith the appaplained, may employ this for driving a compressor, or forassisting the main turbine in one direction, or for driving anyauxiliary machinery. This turbine may be of the pressure flow type, andis the .only case in this specification where the turbines spoken of areof this type.

In-o'rder to satisfactorily carry my invention into effect, it isnecessary that the turbine should be so constructed that they should becapable of easily varying the number of times the working fluid ispassed through the blades, so as to get easy and eflicient speedvariation with a constant velocity of working fluid. I can bestaccomplish this by means of two impact wheels, such as the Laval, placedin close proximity to each other and arranged to rotate in oppositedirections. In some cases the fluid is delivered direct from 'one wheelinto the next, and in others guide blades are used in between. Where,however, guide blades in between are used it is: necessary to form themwith a different receiving angle to the angle ofdelivery, although theblades are placed in the direction of flow of the work ing fluid, andonly slightly diverting it from its natural course. This necessitates acertain thickness of the guide blades, so as to keep the correct area,which in its turn necessitates a division of the nozzle or stream fromthe nozzle so that shook against the central dividing blades may not beexperienced.

I will now describe forms of turbines with oppositely running wheelsadapted to ex tract from the fluid the high velocity imparted to it inits expansion in the nozzles.

According to one method I farm these adjoining oppositely running impactwheels (see Fig. 4) with blades, '1) and 'w, of sufiiclent lengthradially to enable the working fluid to be first passed through at oneradius and'then to be curved around by means of the guide ducts, 3, andpassed back again through the wheels in the opposite direction atanother radius this'operation being performed once or as many times asis necessary to get suflicient reactions at the speed of running 'toabsorb the kinetic energy in the working fluid. According to this methodI am able to give the guide ducts a different angle according to theprogression of the working fluid through them, as

the working fluid always passes in the same direction through them atany one radius and therefore notwithstanding the variation of anglewhich should exist between the blades of the running wheels in thesucces sive passes, a compromise is effected whereby the angle isapproximately right for the several conditions at varying speeds. Thesereturning guides on each side of the oppositely running wheels are ofcourse correctly proportioned otherwise as regards, for example,sectional area.

According to another method, (see Fig. 5) I use two oppositely runningwheels as above described but wit-h the blades, '0 and w, of onlysufficient radial depth for one passage ..of the fluid. I pass the fluidthrough both wheels at one radius and by means of suitable returningguides, 5, pass it back again at the same radius throu h the wheel andrepeat this operation a su 'cient number of times to take out thevelocity of the working-fluid. According to this method the workingfluid travels through the blades in the opposite direction at each pass.\Vith the turbine so constructed, and passing the working fluid fromthenozzle through the first and second wheels, and by means of returningguides back again through the second and first wheel, I get equal poweroneach wheel. There is, however, more shock in assing from wheel towheel accordin to thls method than according to that beforedescribed, asthe fluid is passed 'through'the wheel alternately backward and forward.

With either of the abovearrangements as described I use the turbinesdescribed for marine purposes, one, working on each of a pair of screwsmounted on concentric shafts. The passage backward and-forward of theworkipg fluid through the blades allows the use 0 made 0 considerablediameter, and. thus a low speed obtained. Varying the number of passesin a manner to be described also gives the desired speed, according tothese methods. In order, however to make the arrangeguite simple wheels,which may be" ment complete in using turbines constructed according toFigs. 4 and 5, I require to place a turbine of any suitable type uponone or both of the concentric shafts for the purpose of, running in theopposite direction for driving astern. These several turbines 'arestarted and stoppedby means of a suitable gear, as described elsewherein this specification so that the turbines may be the blades are thenmade three inches long radially. Through the first inch, i. e., theoutermost one in the example shown, I pass the fluid from the nozzle,'a,in one direction. Ithen by means of suitable guides 3, return it throughboth wheels through-the space occupied by the third or innermost inch ofradial depth and so on backwardand forward through the first and thirdinches of radial depth the 1 desired number of times. This part of theconstru-tion corresponds to that described with re erence to Fig. 4. Inthe center inch of radial depth I- form the blades pointing in theopposite direct-ion according to any well known methods and use thispart of the blades for the purpose of reversing, 2'. e. running eachwheel-in the opposite direction to that arranged for running ahead .whenthe nozzle, 2, alone is acting. I provide a reversing nozzle, 2, toco-actwith the center inch of blades and in accordance with the methoddescribed with reference to Fig. 5, provide returning:

guides such as 5.

According to another method, (see Figs. 7 and 8) I make the blades, '0and w, of twice the radial depth necessary for one to pass andsuperpose'two sets of blades and nozzles as shown. Thus for working inthe aheaddirection the working fluid issuing from the nozzle, 2, passesthrough the first inch of both wheels and is then returned for anotherpass through the guides, 5. Similarly for reversing, the fluid passesfrom the reversing nozzle, 2, through the second inch of both wheels andis returned by the guides, 5

I- may employ any of the above constructions with guide blades inbetween oppositely running wheels, as indicated in several of thedrawings already described, and in this case I vary the angles of theguide blades, as regards their entering and leaving parts, for differentpositions around the wheels according to the speed and number ofreactions, thus gettingthe best results under all conditions. Thisvariation of the angle of the guide blade is particularly applicablewhen for the purposes of speed and power regulation, I divide the wheelinto segments in a manner to be described. I, however, prefer in mostcases simply to use the one wheel delivering into theinext, making acompromise of the angles of entering and leaving and correctly fixingthe angles of the returning guides to the --work they have to do.

In some cases I employ single wheels of. blades and pass the workingfluid back-' ward and forward through these blades by means of returningguides, such as already described, at a constant radius. This method,however, I only employ in connection with the turbines cut up intosections for varying torque and speed in a manner to be described "thenozzles and return guides being arranged to' suit these, varying torquesand speeds.

. In the turbine shown in Fig. 9 two wheels, 20, and 21, are arrangedco-axially, with the blades, 22, 23, dis osed in a. direction parallelto the axis 0 the turbine, so that the fluid from the nozzle, 2, afterits first passage inwardly through the blades is returned by the guides,26, for a second passage outwardly through a different part of thelength of. the blades, the process being repeated as desirable.

So far in the foregoing description, where I have described turbineshaving oppositely running wheels, each has been provided with a singleset of blades. I may, however, vary these forms to the extent ofemploying multiple rings of blades, half of which are mounted on onewheel running in one direction and the other half are mounted on asecond wheel running in the opposite direction. Thus referring'to Fig.10, two rings of running blades, 27, are fixed radially to the broad rimof a single wheel, 28, the blades being thereby constrained to run inthe same direction. In between these two rings of blades, 27, anotherring of blades, 29, is arranged, which is connected to an outer ring ofblades, 30, by means of an external connecting piece, 31, the two ringsof blades, 29 and 30, being carried by another wheel, 32. The blades, 29and 30, aredisposed so as to. produce rotation of the wheel 32, to whichthey are secured in 10C an opposite-direction to that given by theblades, 27, mounted on the wheel, 28. It will thus be seen that sincethe blades, 29 are mounted on the external connecting piece, 31, and aresupported thereby, the 1 power which they give is transmitted throughthe connecting piece, 31, and down to-the wheel, 32, through the body ofthe remaining blades, 30. This system may work according to any of themethods I have described in this portion of the specification withreference to turbines having radially disposed blades, the object of thearrangementbeing to get greater power into the space than can beobtained with a single pair of oppositely running wheels. Thus theblades may be of only sufficient length for a single pass or they may bedouble,

.three times or four times the length, all as and for the purposes fullydescribed above.

/;F01' the sake of example, I have shown in Fig. 10, a reversing turbinewith blades double the length required for a single pass.

For the ahead direction of rotation of the turbine, the nozzle, .2, theouter length of the running blades and the return guides, 33, areemployed; for rotation inthe opposite direction, the reversing nozzle,2, the inner length of the running blades and'the -return guide), 34.The working fluid thus receives four reversals in a single passagethrough the blades; by returning it once, it will then have receivedeight reversals and so on.

For the purpose'of regulation, I construct turbines with the casing andits parts 'divided up into segments, and in these segments respectively,I provide such nozzles, guides and the like as are necessary to give thedifferent conditions of running I require. Thus, as indicateddiagrammatically in Fig. 11, I divide the casing of a turbine of anonreversing single wheel type into three segments, A, B and-C, whichare usedrespectively for low, medium and high speeds. In sections A, Iarrange a nozzle, 2, and one return guide, 34, thus securingtwo\reactions on the wheel, 35; this is shown in .Fig. 12. In section B,as shown in Fig. 13, the arrangement is similar but I use three returnguides thereby securing four reactions on the wheel and finally insection C, as shown in Fig. 14, I provide four return g iides, 34,giving five reactions on the wheel. The essence of this part of myinvention is that by providing a separate set of nozzles and returnguides for each speed, I am able to give correct angles to the guides inthe dift'erent segments, which would be impossible it I merely variedthe number of passes through the blades using as many as required of oneset of return guides.

It will be obvious that in order to vary the power at any of thepre-arranged speeds I may provide a plurality of each or any of thearrangements shown in Figs. 12 to 14 respectively in the correspondingsegment of the turbine.

In applying my invention to a reversing turbine of the type describedwith reference to Fig. 6, having provision for three efiicient speedsahead and. one astern and referring to Fig. 15,, an end elevation of theturbine is shown, the radial distances apart of.

the four concentric circles, 36, representing the three lengths, eachsay of one inch, into which the blades are divided. The turbine it willbe seen is divided into four segments, A, B, C, and D. In segment A,which is used for full power and speed ahead, five nozzles, z, areprovided and the fluid issuing from each is caused to make eight passesthrough the blades, this being effected by the return guides numbered 3in Fig. 15 and diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 15

. by the zigzag lines issuing from the respective nozzles; the numeralsadjacent to these lines indicate the number of passes made by the fluidthrough the turbine at these points. In segment, B, are arrangedtwonozzles, 2, the fluid from each making ten passes Fig.

15' through the blades this segment is used for, say, .4 of the fullpower ahead and .8 of the speed. In segment. G, one nozzle is arranged,the fluid making twelve passes .2 of the full with diminished eciencies.

the blades and giving say, ower and .6 of the speed. The segments, 1 B,and 0, thus provide efficient means of procuring the three differentahead speeds. Finally in segment D, I provide in the middle inch of theblades, five reversing nozzles, a, making eight passes Fig. 15 throughthe blades. These successive passesare not indicated in Fi 15 to avoidconfusion since they are all e ected at the sameradius. It will be seenthat this arrangement provides Fig. 15 through for eflicient Working ofthe turbine at only one speed viz., full speed astern, but by shuttingoff one or more of, the nozzles, a, other speeds may besecured but ofcourse Similar remarks apply to segments, A and B. It will further beobvious that instead of providing a plurality of nozzles in each of thesegments A, B, and-C, I may provide single nozzles of different sizesbut in most cases I prefer the arrangement above described. In somecases the returning ducts may be worked into and out of position bymeans of suitable relay gear connected with the control mechanism of theturbine. By

means of a governor working by variation of speed of the turbine, I mayvary automatically the number of returns through the blades according tothe speed at which the turbine is running. For example, the faster theturbine runs, the .fewer the number of return blades that are required,and therefore the fewer the number of times the working fluid is passedbackward and forward. On the other hand, if the speed falls, thegovernor automatically puts into place additional reaction ducts whichconduct the working fluid backward and forward a greater number of timesand so add to the torque capacity of the turbines at the particularspeed. The power to be given'out by the turbine at any one speed willthen depend upon the number of nozzles and chambers that are thrown intoaction by the main control of the apparatus.

I may automaticallyecontrol the number of reactions in accordance withthe speed according to another method. For this purpose, (see Fig. 16),I pivot'the reaction ducts or return guides, 37, by attaching to them aknife edge, 38, or the like resting in a corresponding recess or socket,39. I so arrange the position of this pivot or hinge device that theaction of the working fluid the fluid from eachpassing through the guideexerts a force this action ceases to take place, the returning ductsdrop back into working position alongside the running wheels, so as tomake the maximum number of reactions. \Vhen the turbine is at rest themaximum number of reactions will be obtained at starting. These movingducts may automatically adjust themselves to the power being developedand thus produce more efficient working. The number of nozzles in actionmay be varied so as to diminish the available horse power given to thewheel at. the low speeds. In some cases where I employ multiple outflownozzles such as 50, (see Fig. 18),

issuing directly from the combustion chamher, I provide a water jacket,51, locally around parts of the nozzles and in some cases between theindividual nozzles likewise as shown. The signification of otherreference symbols on this drawing has already been explained.

As before described, I preferably construct the combustion chambers, a,in such a way that the combustion chamber proper is cooled by jacketingit with the air supply.

The external shell, 52, (see Figs. 18 and 19) forming the outer wall ofthe jacket, e, through which the air is supplied can be readily made tostand the full pressure. A ain in some cases, (see Fig. 19) I provide aIong tube, 53, on the end of the combustion chamber, a, supplying thistube with air through an annulus, 54:, which is in dlrect communlcatlonwith the acket, e, surrounding the combustlon chamber proper.

I also supply fuelthrough a central orifice,

55, so arranged that the combustible mixture passes alongthe tube, 53,at high velocity thus preventing back ignition; or in some cases thestraight mixing tube, 53, may be replaced by a mixing tube, in the formof a coil. The combustion chambers may be arranged radially to the axisof the wheel or with their axes in planes parallel to the axis of thewheel and at any suitable angle to the plane of rotation or in any otherconvenient and suitable position.

I have already'described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 one form of thecombustion chamber which I prefer to use as applied to a turbinetogether with the governing gear rendering it capable of working underthe widely varying conditions involved in the present invention. Inorder to make the arately driven compressing plant for supplying thenecessary air under pressure for either the air or steam superheatedturbines. In the latter case the air compressor may be driven from thesecondary turbine, assisted if need be and for purposes of starting by aprimary turbine suitably governed to give the right amount of air to thesystem. The compressor for this purpose may be of the reciprocating typeworking with say three stages, and arranged to compress as nearlyisoth'ermally as possible. lVhere the turbines are worked by air and theproducts of combustion and the power required for compression isconsiderable the compressing must be performed wholly or in largemeasure by means of a rotary compressor using liquid as the medium ofcompression. This compressor is driven by a separate air turbine, andmay be governed by means of intermittent operation as already describedin this specification. Separate air reservoirs with proper air governingarrangements are provided, so that a constant supply and small storageof air is kept, the storage of air being also necessary for startingpurposes. serew operating turbines so that they can be easily handled bymeans of suitable valves, and worked under conditions of maximum economyat the various speeds and torques required from them Where I desire todrive paddle boats which do not require such large powers as abovecontemplated, I still prefer to use the same class of turbine consistingof oppositely running wheels. I may attach large toothed gear wheels,56, (see Fig. 20) to the shafts of the paddles, 57, with two pinions,58, gearing into each of these main wheels- On the ends of these pinionshafts, I fit worm wheels, 59, and into these are geared worms,

60, mounted on the shafts of the oppositely running wheels of theturbine, 61. The turbines may be of the variable speed and reversingtype, as already described, and one complete turbine is then fitted toeach paddlewheel, as shown. This arrangement enables rotation in eitherdirection to be effected on each wheel independently of the other andtherefore gives the boat facility for handling the best together withgood economy under all conditions. It is obvious that many detailedvariations of the application of the turbines which I have described maybe made to the driving of paddle wheels.

According to another method (see Figs.

gear wheels. 56. which when it is desired to operate the paddlesseparately I fix upon the two separate shafts each carrying a paddle asin the form of drive described with referrect into the correspondinggear wheel, 56;

the motor wheels driving the other paddle wheel also have their shaftsfitted with pinions, (32 but these latter in order to get the rightdirection of rotation drive the corresponding gear wheel, 56; through anidler wheel. ()4. According to this method I can either ru'n ahead orastern.

I provide both the shafts carrying the paddles with brake wheels, (35,and brake shoes or clamps, 6 pivotally mounted at (37*, (seeparticularly Fig. 22) so, that I can hold either of the paddle wheels.It is then possible with the reversing turbines to run the other wheeleither ahead or astern. In this way, although the operation of the boatmay ordinarily be by means of both paddles going ahead or astern, I amable to obtain additional control for turning in a circle of smallradius or of other purposes of easy handling. The wheels when both freealso rotate atditl'erent speeds when the vessel is making a circle, andthis facilitates the steering of the boat. In place of gearing throughan idler wheel one/of the main gear wheels may gear with an externallytoothed.

spur wheel and the other with an internally toothed spur wheel providedthat both sets are approximately the same ratio of gearing.

I wish it to be understood that although I have described my inventionas applied to ships. boats and the like, yet it is evident that it maybe applied to other power in stallations in which it is necessary tovary the torque according to the power required, as in those cases whereit is required to run speeds other than the normal for considerableperiods of time.

I wish it to be understood that where in the foregoing description andclaims I have the. working fluid of varying operative.

lengths, together with means for supplying working fluid to any of saidpaths at will.

2. In combination, a turbine having one or more bladed members, aplurality of guides coaeting with the blades of said members to form aplurality of paths for the working fluid of varying operative lengths,means for gene 'ating said working fluid, means for heating saidgenerated fluid by internal combustion, together with means forsupplying said fluid to any of said paths at will.

3. In combination, a turbine having one or more fluid members, aplurality of guides coaeting with the blades of said members to form aplurality of paths for the working fluid of varying operative lengths,means for generating condensable elastic fluid, means for heating saidcondensable elastic fluid, together with means for supplying said fluidto any of said paths at will.

4. In combination, a turbine having one or more bladed members, aplurality of guides coaeting with the blades of said members to form aplurality of paths for the working fluid of varying operative lengths,

a source of elastic fluid under pressure, a

source of fuel, a combustion chamber in which said elastic fluid andfuel are burned, together with means for leading working fluid from saidcombustion chamber to any of said paths at will.

5. In combination, a turbine having one or more bladed members, aplurality of guides coaeting with the blades of said members 'to form aplurality of paths for the working fluid of varying operative lengths, asource of condensable elastic fluid under pressure, a source ofcompressed air, a source of fuel, a combustion chamber in which fuel andair are burned to heat said condensable.

elastic fluid, together with means for leading the working fluid fromsaid combustion cllaniber to' a liy of said paths at will.

6. I11 combination, a turbine having one or more bladed members, aplurality of guides coaeting with the blades of said members to form aplurality of paths for the working fluid of varying operative lengths,together with a second plurality of guides coaeting with theblades ofsaid members to form a second plurality of paths for the working fluidof varying operative lengths for reversing the direction of rotation ofsite directions, a plurality of guides coactname to this specificationin the presence of ing with the blades off said {HQIHEQI'S ti) fgrn; twosubscribing witnesses. a iluralit of aths or'the W01 ing ui 0' va ryingZpera tii'e lengths, to ether with SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FEB'RANTL meansfor supplying working uid to any Witnesses: of said paths at will.ROBERT MORRISON N EILSON,

In testimony whereof I have signed my V VIVIAN ARTHUR HUGHES.

